Bumper crowds expected at Lingfield for first ever Good Friday race meeting

Lingfield officials are predicting a crowd of up 7,000 for Friday afternoon’s inaugural and historic £1million All-Weather Champions day.

The seven-race card is not only the richest all-weather fixture ever staged in Europe but it will also go down, along with the meeting at Musselburgh, as the first race meetings ever staged in Britain on Good Friday, a day with strong religious connections.

Betting shops have opened on this day since 2008.

Ready for action: Racing on the all weather surface at Lingfield racecourse

Historic: The All-Weather Champions day will be among the first meetings ever staged in Britain on Good Friday